Pacers 105 - 107 Trail Blazers
Final
  for this game

Blazers excelling despite Oden absence

Mar 4, 2009 - 11:21 AM Indiana (27-36) at Portland (37-22) 10:00 p.m. EST

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- The Portland Trail Blazers are doing just fine without rookie Greg Oden, who won't be back in the lineup anytime soon.

The Blazers go for their third straight win on Wednesday when they host the Indiana Pacers.

Entering this season, Portland was expected to contend for a playoff spot in the West on the strength of a youthful lineup that was centered around former Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy and Oden, the No. 1 pick of the 2007 draft who missed last season after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee.

While Roy, an All-Star for the second straight season, and the rest of the team has lived up to expectations, Oden continues to struggle with injuries.

The 7-footer missed two weeks after injuring his right foot in his NBA debut against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 28 and has sat out the last seven games due to a bone chip in his left knee that is expected to keep him sidelined another seven to 10 days.

Despite his absence, the Blazers are 5-2 over that stretch and are coming off an impressive 102-84 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

The Pacers earned their second straight win and third in the last four games Tuesday, forging a 117-109 victory over the lowly Sacramento Kings.






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